TheEye loves theatre – she doesn’t love theatres

TheEye is sad to say that although going to the theatre is one of her pleasures in life, the state of most theatres is fairly abysmal.

Is this an unfair complaint?

You judge – and let’s start with basics – the ladies loo situation.
The lines often snake a long way back – it’s a choice of queuing for an ice cream in the interval or (to be indelicate) a pee. In TheEye’s case – it has to be a pee – so no lovely salted caramel ice cream for her.

Then we get to something so alarming she can barely tell you, but she must.
Theatres in London are old and in most cases not properly maintained to nearly a high enough standard. Most have mice, but in the case of one prestigious theatre in St Martin’s Lane only last week, audiences were shocked to find a RAT scurrying along the floor of the front row of the dress circle. Some of the distraught audience left but there was a dreadful commotion.
Of course, the actors were unaware of this, but an actor friend of TheEye’s told her that you can sense on stage when something is happening in the audience and in this case, they must certainly have felt the unease.

 

Fortunately, TheEye wasn’t there to witness this, but her friend is filing a complaint to Westminster Council who must be used to hearing such complaints.

At a much anticipated Simon Rattle concert at the Barbican several years ago, TheEye was enjoying the sublime music when, again, there was a scuttle in the row in front of her and a mouse – clearly a music lover- was scampering along the feet of those in the front row of the dress circle. How TheEye restrained from letting out a scream she does not know, but she immediately put her legs up and rested her feet on the seat in front.
She spoke to the manager afterwards who nonchalantly told her they did indeed have a rodent problem in the building and would be ‘speaking’ to an extermination company.

The Collapse of a Ceiling at Death of a Salesman
During a performance of Death of A Salesman (ironic title?) several years ago, water started slowly dripping from the ceiling which increased in rate until the ceiling just caved in causing panic and chaos. Five people suffered minor injuries.
Will it soon be necessary to take out insurance to go to the theatre?

But enough moaning, TheEye had a wonderful afternoon at The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre last week.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

A moving production at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
It was a near perfect afternoon. The sun shone; next day it poured and hasn’t stopped.

MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY

This offbeat adaptation of the famous Alice story was full of life and energy in the Linbury Theatre of The Royal Ballet and Opera House.

Joyful, energetic,  with a lot of acrobatics, handstands, and other daredevil acts which had the audience gasping.

But an unsaid warning to not try similar antics at home.

THE PLAYGROUND THEATRE

One of London’s tiny theatres hidden away in odd venues. The Playground is in a car park in Latimer Road, West London, used by showrooms and offices. It is a small gem of a theatre and needs  supporting. Actor Brian Cox and his wife are on the board.

Recently the company put on a play adapted from a book by first time author, Renske Mann.

Now in her mid 80’s but still lively and active, the book is her life story from her early family  home in Indonesia, moving to London at age 19 and falling desperately in love with Cyril Mann, many years her senior, a bitterly angry artist who believed no one in the art world saw his greatness. It’s one of those stories that hardly seem true, but this one certainly is. Having seen Cyril Mann’s paintings, he was an excellent artist but his flawed personality let him down.

THE  PROMS

This was the first year TheEye had seriously been to the proms which was a lengthy and complicated booking process before finding out which tickets we had managed to reserve.

It’s quite a commitment, as you have to be sure you don’t in error make other plans on the night you have submitted a booking or you are stuck.

It was quite an experience and reeks of tradition. Those devotees who go every year and stand up for what can be hours. The Albert Hall is vast – TheEye frequently has found herself wandering around, having forgotten where she is sitting. But the music was worth it. The Aurora Orchestra, who play standing up with no music sheets, are young and excellent musicians: a joy!

Apart from rodents and the loo shortage, it’s been a feast of music and theatre – as TheEye is always saying “aren’t we lucky to be living in this great city of London!”

October 1st

Janice Blackburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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